West Ham United play host to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League 2021-22 semi-final at London Stadium in the wee hours of Friday, April 29. The match will kick off at 12:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).
The Hammers will have to go into the fixture with a makeshift backline as defender Issa Diop has joined Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna on the sidelines. Manager David Moyes is likely to stick with a back three on Friday to compensate for the lack of defensive personnel.
West Ham United vs Eintracht Frankfurt odds for Europa League 2021-22
West Ham United: 1.93
Eintracht Frankfurt: 4.10
Draw: 3.50
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Note: Odds are subject to change.
West Ham United vs Eintracht Frankfurt recent form
West Ham United, despite enjoying a great run of form in the Europa League, have won just one of their last five matches across all competitions. That win, incidentally, came against Lyon in the quarter-final round on April 15. Since that win, the team drew a league match against Burnley followed by a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Chelsea.
On the other hand, Eintracht Frankfurt have endured a similar run of form, with the team failing to get a win in their last two outings. Before that, however, they did eliminate Barcelona from the competition.
West Ham United: L, D, W, L, D
Eintracht Frankfurt: D, L, W, L, D
West Ham United vs Eintracht Frankfurt head to head
West Ham United and Eintracht Frankfurt have played just two matches against each other in the past. Those two meetings came in the 1976 edition of the UEFA European Winners Cup where the German side won the first match and the English club won the other.
West Ham United vs Eintracht Frankfurt prediction and tips for UEFA Europa League 2021-22
Given the magnitude of the game as well the injury issues West Ham United are facing, it could well and truly be a tough call, but one cannot discount their form in the competition that has been exhilarating, to say the least. On top of that, the famed home crowd of the London Stadium will make life difficult for Frankfurt in every way possible, making the Hammers the favourites to take the win on Friday.
Featured photo: AFP / Jeff Pachoud
